Maniolas

INQUIRER.net By: Frances Mangosing, September 14th, 2015 04:48 PM Defense Minister of the Republic of Korea Han, Minkoo and Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin signed the Memorandum of Agreement on the Protection of Classified Military Information between the Philippines’ Department of National Defense and Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Defense on September 14, 2015, at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. DND-PAS COUNTRIES directly involved in the ongoing territorial dispute in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) should abide by the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), South Korean defense chief Han Minkoo said on Monday. “It is my stance that the relevant nations surrounding this area and this situation should solve this situation based on mutual respect towards each other’s sovereignty and mutual cooperation and mutual understanding of each nation’s perspective,” he told reporters through interpreter in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo for his two-day visit in the country. “I also believe that parties should act in accordance with the DOC that has already been made,” Han said adding he looks forward to “the speedy conclusion of the code of conduct concerning the South China Sea.” The Philippines is one of the claimants in the disputed waterway, along with Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan. China has made sweeping expansion in nine areas in the Spratlys (Kalayaan Island Group) the past few months, turning reefs into artificial islands. He described the security situation in the region as an “Asian paradox” as the economic cooperation has been Read More …

Philippine Daily Inquirer By: Tarra Quismundo, September 13th, 2015 04:57 AM ‘WE HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN,’ veterans of the Korean War lament during their 41st annual convention, but the Elpidio Quirino Foundation remembers to honor their heroism. With the President’s grandchildren Cory Quirino and Ruby Gonzalez-Meyer (extreme left) are veterans Arnulfo Bañez, Miguel Villamor, Crispin Paciente Sr., Augusto Flores and Ernesto Venturina. JILSON SECKLER TIU The year is 1952. Just seven years after the end of a war that devastated their homeland, another wave of Filipino soldiers arrive in the shores of the Korean Peninsula, heeding the call to support the defense of democracy. In unfamiliar terrain, in the bitter cold, the Filipinos—mostly just in their 20s—hang on to their helmets and rifles amid the onslaught of enemy forces. It is the first overseas war the Philippines fought, a war largely forgotten today. “Of course, when we arrived, we saw the people scared, hungry, with tattered clothes,” said 86-year-old retired Col. Ernesto Venturina. Venturina was part of the 19th Battalion Combat Team (BCT) of the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (Peftok), the country’s contingent which began deployment two years earlier (1950) to support United Nations forces repel communist forces in the divided Korean Peninsula. “We were in the front lines. The sight of both our people and the enemy, it was sad to see that,” said Venturina, who deployed at 22, the youngest first sergeant among the entire UN forces at the time. The memory is as vivid for retired General Read More …

Philippine Daily Inquirer By: Ma.Fatima Cruz, September 13th, 2015 03:10 AM Wilbert Balbuena, one of Tesda and Cemex’s mason scholars says, “I learned the importance of getting along with people, planning my life, as well as entrepreneurship skills…” The market for skilled workers abroad is still large and is waiting to be filled, but in the face of increasing competitiveness in the global arena, Filipinos need to continue setting themselves apart with a reputation for excellence and strict work ethics. The story of 28-year-old Saudi worker Wilbert Balbuena is one of a personal drive to excel, coupled with finding the right opportunities for doing so. Commitment Born in Dumaguete province, Balbuena didn’t finish high school due to hardships, followed by the separation of his parents. However, he pursued his dreams of a better life by going to Manila where he found livelihood as a construction worker. His commitment to his chosen job and his perseverance eventually led him to the rank of lead mason for a construction company in Taguig City. Balbuena would often go the extra mile for his employer, and these efforts eventually caught the attention of his team’s project engineer who nominated him for further education and skills training. Training program He was one of the four masons required by their project engineer to attend the “Experto Ako” masonry skills training program organized by cement manufacturer Cemex Philippines in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP). Read More …

INQUIRER.net By: Kristine Angeli Sabillo, September 9th, 2015 03:16 PM Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, center in back row, and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, right in back row, congratulate Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, following a signing ceremony for a tentative peace agreement between the MILF and the government which Malaysia helped broker, at Malacanang Palace. Others are Malaysian peace broker Tengku Abdul Ghafar, right back to camera, and MILF chair Al Haj Murad. AP FILE PHOTO With Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in hot water because of a corruption scandal, President Benigno Aquino III has said he hopes nothing will change in the two countries’ joint efforts for peace in Mindanao. Aquino, during the Meet Inquirer Multimedia forum on Tuesday, said he has not been in touch with Najib “except [during] formal meetings in Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).” “And I haven’t discussed this particular problem with him,” he said. “What I know for a fact now is that we have Prime Minister Najib, who has been very instrumental ever since I got into this office, in moving this peace dialogue forward and we hope that this policy of Malaysia doesn’t change [from] being really of tremendous help in resolving this long, long problem that has been festering since the late 60’s,” he added. Malaysia has been instrumental in the peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), serving as a third party facilitator. A number of talks Read More …

INQUIRER.net U.S. Bureau By: Esther Misa Chavez, September 9th, 2015 01:32 AM Over-All Champions, father and son, Jaden Dumdumaya (9 years old) and his dad, Stan Dumdumaya, with their trophies. Behind are Chito Desuasido, Maria Banatao and Sonny Manuel at the PhilDev golf-wine fundraiser. PHOTO BY ESTHER CHAVEZ SAN FRANCISCO — Philippine Development Foundation (PhilDev), a Menlo Park, California-based nonprofit, raised $75,000 at its successful Inaugural Golf Tournament on August 29 at wine country’s Chardonnay Golf Club in American Canyon, California. The amount will be matched by the group’s founder, Dado Banatao. In addition to welcoming 114 golfers, PhilDev also hosted a sold-out wine tour and a dinner-dance affair, attended by over 300 guests. Supported by over 30 volunteers, it was the first time that such a 3-in-1 event was held, with rave reviews from all the attendees. Golfers were delighted to find their custom goodie bags overflowing with gifts and snack items. Winning opportunities ran the gamut from “nearest to the pin” in all Par 3 holes to two “Hole-in-one” prizes: a brand-new Toyota Camry and a one-week get-away in Kauai (no one made a whole-in-one though.) Drinks were available including complimentary beers at the 10th hole hosted by Morgan Stanley. A full house at Grove Ballroom. PHOTO BY TOM NELSON The wine tour was a huge success, with PhilDev arranging exclusive wine tasting and cellar tour stops at premium wineries Silver Oak Winery and Whitehall Winery in Napa. A final stop at Cellar Collections introduced attendees to a variety of new wines. Read More …